During the ADCC 2005 competitio held on May 28th and 29th in Long Beach, California, the audience did not have the opportunity to see two great MMA names in action. Expected to be fighting in the over to 99kg category and the up to 99kg, respectively, BTT’s Paulao Filho and Vladimir Matyushenko did not compete when all was said and done. Why? You are about to find out!He is sitting out the Pride Middleweight GP due to a foot injury suffered during Bushido’s sixth edition, and Paulao Filho was very excited with the chance to compete at ADCC. However, only a few days before the event he received sad news. According to coach and mentor Mario Sperry, Paulao wasn’t able to get his visa, and therefore it was impossible to get on a plane and fly to the United States. We caught up with Paulo in Rio de Janeiro and asked him what happened.’I even postponed my departure date trying to solve my visa problems. However I was not successful, but I see no reason to lament. I will have another shot at ADCC. Even if I’m not invited again, I will fight in the Brazilian trials. I have no problem with it and I know I have a lot to show’ says Paulao, who was impressed with Roger Gracie’s performance: ‘I had no idea that Roger was so good without a gi. I felt sorry for Alexandre Cacareco (up to 99kg runner-up) but Gracie was in a better moment and now that he is an ADCC champion, I would love to face him’ ends the BTT fighter.The problem with Matyushenko was completely different. According to the Raw Team leader, Ricco Chiaparelli, a broken nose was the reason. ‘Matyushenko had his nose broken during the fight against Carlao Barreto at Jungle Fight 4. He wanted to use a mask to protect the injury area but the promoters wouldn’t let him’ explained Chiaparelli.
